TTC Bluish White vs. TTC Gold Red
An in-depth look at the TTC Bluish White and the TTC Gold Red switches—which one is the best fit for you?
Overview
When choosing a mechanical keyboard switch, two popular options to consider are the TTC Bluish White and the TTC Gold Red. The Bluish White is beloved for its tactile feedback, providing users with a satisfyingly poppy typing experience. With a snappy sound profile and a classification of being 'buttery', 'mild', 'stepped', 'subtle', 'polished', and 'low-pitched', these switches offer a unique and distinctive feel. On the other hand, the Gold Red switches are known for their smoothness and light-medium level of resistance. While also offering a snappy sound profile, these switches add a touch of personality to your keyboard without being too ostentatious. Classified as 'thocky', 'low-pitched', 'neutral', 'mild', 'silky', 'subtle', and 'polished', they provide a different yet equally appealing typing experience. However, let's dive in a bit deeper beyond generalities so you can best decide on the best switch for you.
By the numbers
Technical specifications
Actuation force
42g
Actuation force
43g
Bottom-out force
50g
Bottom-out force
50g
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Pre-travel
2.00 mm
Total travel
3.50 mm
Total travel
4.00 mm
Factory lubed
Yes
Factory lubed
Yes
Stem construction
Partial box
Stem construction
Standard
Stem material
POM
Stem material
POM
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Top housing material
Polycarbonate
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Bottom housing material
Nylon
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Mount type
Plate (3-pin)
Spring
Stainless steel
Spring
Stainless steel
Housing materials
The TTC Bluish White and the TTC Gold Red have similar housing materials, with both featuring polycarbonate top housings. This choice of material contributes to a sharper, higher-pitched, and crisper sound profile. The translucency of polycarbonate is particularly useful for those planning to use RGB lighting, as it allows for a visually appealing illumination. Therefore, when it comes to sound profile and aesthetics, both switches will provide similar results due to their polycarbonate top housing.
Where the two switches differ is in their nylon bottom housings. The Bluish White utilizes nylon, which creates a deeper and fuller sound profile. This softer plastic material absorbs more sound than harder plastics, resulting in a duller and rounder sound. On the other hand, the Gold Red also features a nylon bottom housing, which provides a similar typing experience with a deeper and fuller sound. The absorption of sound by the softer nylon material contributes to a dulled and more rounded sound overall.
When considering the overall typing experience, the combination of different materials in the top and bottom housings of a switch plays a significant role. While the bottom housing affects the bottom-out sound and feel of the switch, the top housing predominantly influences the sound when releasing a key. As both the Bluish White and the Gold Red have polycarbonate top housings contributing to their sharper sound profiles, the differences in their nylon bottom housings would be the main factors to consider in terms of sound variation.
In summary, the TTC Bluish White and the TTC Gold Red share similarities in their polycarbonate top housings, resulting in a sharper and crisper sound profile. However, their choices of nylon for the bottom housings lead to slight differences in sound characteristics. The Bluish White's nylon bottom housing creates a duller and rounder sound, while the Gold Red's nylon bottom housing provides a similar typing experience with a deeper and fuller sound. Overall, both switches offer unique sound profiles due to the combination of their housing materials.
Weight
When comparing the TTC Bluish White tactile switch and the TTC Gold Red linear switch, both switches have a bottom out force of 50 grams, providing a light and consistent typing experience. However, there is a slight difference in their actuation forces. The Bluish White tactile switch requires 42 grams of force to trigger a keystroke, while the Gold Red linear switch requires 43 grams. This means that the Bluish White switch is slightly lighter in terms of actuation force.
For those who prefer a lighter typing experience, the Bluish White switch would be the ideal choice as it requires less force to trigger a keystroke. This can be beneficial for long typing sessions or gaming marathons, allowing for increased endurance and reduced fatigue. On the other hand, the Gold Red switch offers a slightly heavier actuation force, providing a more substantial and tactile typing experience for those who prefer a stronger push feel.
In summary, while both switches have the same bottom out force, the TTC Bluish White tactile switch offers a lighter actuation force compared to the TTC Gold Red linear switch. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on individual preferences, with the lighter actuation force of the Bluish White switch being better suited for extended typing sessions, while the Gold Red switch provides a more robust typing experience for those seeking a stronger push feel.
Travel distance
When comparing the travel distance of the TTC Bluish White tactile switch and the TTC Gold Red linear switch, it is evident that the Bluish White has a shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm, while the Gold Red has a longer travel distance of 4 mm. The difference may seem small, but it can have a significant impact on the overall typing experience. 4.0 mm is considered a traditional travel distance, offering a standard depth that many are accustomed to. On the other hand, the Bluish White's shorter travel distance of 3.5 mm appeals to gamers who prioritize faster response times. The shorter travel distance allows for quicker key presses, enabling gamers to execute commands rapidly. However, some individuals find short travel distances to feel too abrupt, lacking the desired depth in their typing experience. Choosing the switch with the longer travel distance, the Gold Red, would be more suitable for those who prefer a hearty, tactile feel when typing. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches depends on personal preference and the specific requirements of the user.
Price comparison
Which switch is more bang for your buck?
The TTC Bluish White has an MSRP of $6.60 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Bluish White for $4.63.
The TTC Gold Red has an MSRP of $5.00 per 10 switches. At Milktooth, we are able to pass on savings to our customers and offer the Gold Red for $3.28.
Here at Milktooth, we offer the best prices on switches (on average, 27% lower the competition). In addition, we offer free shipping on orders over $49.00. We also offer free returns and exchanges, so you can shop with guaranteed satisfaction.
That said, while price is an important piece of the puzzle, our opinion is that you should ultimately pick the option that most suits your unique preferences since you’ll be using these switches for years to come. In other words, finding something perfect for you is, in our view, the most important criteria.
Typing experience
When it comes to sound, the TTC Bluish White tactile switch offers a low-pitched profile, which is characterized by a more bass-heavy and mellow tone. This results in a satisfyingly poppy typing experience, with a snappy sound that adds a touch of personality to your keyboard without being too ostentatious. On the other hand, the TTC Gold Red linear switch offers a thocky sound profile, producing a deep, rich, and satisfying sound when pressed and released. This sound can be likened to a deep "thud" or a soft "knock." Additionally, the Gold Red switch also has a low-pitched sound similar to the Bluish White switch, creating a more bass-heavy and mellow tone. Overall, both switches offer unique sound profiles that add to the overall typing experience, with the Gold Red providing a deeper and richer sound compared to the snappy sound of the Bluish White.
In terms of feel, the TTC Bluish White tactile switch provides a buttery and mild typing experience. This implies a smooth and fluid keystroke, offering a seamless and effortless sensation. The mild characteristics of the switch ensure that the sound and feel are approachable to most users, as it stands in a safe and middle-ground zone. Furthermore, the Bluish White switch can be considered stepped, meaning it has two stages in its tactile feedback. This results in a more mild feel compared to switches with a hypertactile bump, allowing the user to feel some pre-travel and/or post-travel. The subtle resistance and polished finish of the switch contribute to a gentle typing feel with reduced friction and smooth key travel. On the other hand, the TTC Gold Red linear switch also provides a mild and silky typing experience. The mild characteristics ensure a gentle typing feel, while the silky smoothness enhances the overall smoothness of the typing experience and minimizes resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Similarly, the Gold Red switch has a subtle resistance and polished finish, offering reduced friction and smooth key travel. Overall, both switches offer a smooth and fluid typing experience with gentle resistance and polished finishes, providing a sleek and refined typing experience.
To summarize, the TTC Bluish White tactile switch is best known for its snappy sound profile, poppy typing experience, buttery feel, mild characteristics, stepped feedback, subtle resistance, and polished finish. On the other hand, the TTC Gold Red linear switch is best known for its thocky sound profile, buttery smooth typing experience, mild characteristics, silky feel, subtle resistance, and polished finish. Despite their differences, both switches offer a satisfying typing experience with gentle resistance and polished finishes. The sound profiles of these switches add personality to your keyboard without being overpowering. Ultimately, the choice between the two switches depends on personal preference for sound and feel, with the Bluish White switch offering a more snappy and poppy experience, while the Gold Red switch provides a deeper and richer typing sensation.
Conclusion
To sum up, if you desire a satisfyingly poppy typing experience with a snappy sound profile, the TTC Bluish White tactile switch may be the right choice for you. These switches offer a light bottom out force of 50 grams, making them feel light and effortless to type on. Additionally, the Bluish White switches are described as buttery, mild, stepped, subtle, and polished, providing a seamless and uniform typing sensation with reduced friction and smooth key travel. On the other hand, if you prefer a buttery smooth typing experience with a light-medium level of resistance and a thocky sound profile, the TTC Gold Red linear switch might be more suited to your preferences. Like the Bluish Whites, the Gold Red switches also have a bottom out force of 50 grams, but the sound and feel are described as mild, silky, subtle, and polished. These switches offer an exceptionally smooth typing feel with minimized resistance when pressing and releasing keys. Ultimately, the decision between the two switches depends on your personal preference for sound, feel, and typing experience.
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